Classic & Vintage - Happy with powdercoat?

I have a 70s Coppi frame that has rusted chrome and probably not worth the cost of a fancy, professional bicycle refinisher job. (plus I can't afford it anyway)

Have you folks been happy with powdercoat on lugged bike frames? There's a place in the area that the car guys say is good.

Powder is touger than paint. I think a powder colore in a bronze tone or silver would be pretty good looking. I'm not sure how they remove the chrome.

Most powder coating places can't/won't remove the chrome plating as blasting it off takes waaaaay too much time. I took my frame to the same guys who rechromed the fork and had them removed all the plating. They charged me $75 since it was a pita. They don't tend to want to do this since it could contaminate their tank. As far a powder coating, I like it also long as it's not put on too thick.

I prefer powdercoat to liquid, because it is more durable. Over time, powder will scratch and dent, whereas liquid will chip -- which looks far more unsightly. Even my dream, handbuilt $5K bike would be powdercoated.

Pros: easy, inexpensive, durable.
Cons: chrome issues, not as handsome as a professional spray job, can obscure fancy lugwork, heavier.

My take: If this is a collector's item, go with paint. If this is just a favorite old bike you'd like to keep around for many more years, go with powdercoat.

I prefer powdercoat to liquid, because it is more durable. Over time, powder will scratch and dent, whereas liquid will chip -- which looks far more unsightly. Even my dream, handbuilt $5K bike would be powdercoated.

Blasphemy



I actually own a pc bike, but it's my fixed gear

Most powder coating places can't/won't remove the chrome plating as blasting it off takes waaaaay too much time. I took my frame to the same guys who rechromed the fork and had them removed all the plating. They charged me $75 since it was a pita. They don't tend to want to do this since it could contaminate their tank. As far a powder coating, I like it also long as it's not put on too thick.

This road has been traveled by word often.
Some powdercoaters, who know bikes can do a good durable job. It will not be much less $ if any than a good wet paint job. It will be thicker, one cannot outrun the laws of physics. Sharp edges such as lug perimeters and braze ons are hard to coat effectively long term. The film thins out at a sharp edge.

The better powder jobs will be multistage. I have stripped a number of single stage powdercoat jobs,all showed corrosion Under the film, and not visible from above. The stuff is tough, it takes localized abuse, it is not a cheap panacea.

Powder over chrome is not a problem unless there is peeling already underway. It can be masked, but don't expect a "production" house to do artisan work.

Powdercoat is superior to paint. Its tough and its an economical solution to vintage bike restoration. I've been happy with the powdercoat of my Raleigh Twenty. After two years, it still looks like new.

Even my dream, handbuilt $5K bike would be powdercoated.

Remind me to get you a photo of a $800 frameset that was powered.

-Kurt

pros: Easy, inexpensive, durable.
Cons: Chrome issues, not as handsome as a professional spray job, can obscure fancy lugwork, heavier.

My take: If this is a collector's item, go with paint. If this is just a favorite old bike you'd like to keep around for many more years, go with powdercoat.

nailed it!